Hearts' Champions League fringe men given outing at Raith as new signing looks assured
Mato’s late goal gives Vrancken’s men victory in Kirkcaldy
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken was given further opportunity to cast his eye over his squad during a 1-0 friendly win against Raith Rovers.
Three nights on from a 4-0 defeat in their Champions League second qualifying round first leg tie away to Sturm Graz, a completely different Hearts XI started at Stark’s Park in the club’s final friendly of pre-season.
Stephen Kingsley captained the team at left-back and Stuart Findlay was deployed at centre-half. There was a rare outing for Zander Clark in goal, while further up the pitch, Sabri Guendouz played the first half in the No 10 role and striker Amadou Ba-Sy got an hour in his legs before coming off.
Both Guendouz and Ba-Sy are likely to be called upon on Tuesday night at Tynecastle when Hearts try to eradicate a four-goal deficit against Sturm Graz.
There were few other players on show at Kirkcaldy who put their hand up for selection in what was a sedate affair.
The 1000-odd Hearts fans who attended got their first sight of new goalkeeper Beau Reus, who was signed from Beveren but is ineligible for the Sturm Graz. He looked assured in the second half as Raith pressed for a winner.
At the other end, Raith’s reserve keeper Luke Armstrong made a very smart save from MJ Kamson-Kamara on 69 minutes, turning the ball over the bar from close range.
James Wilson, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, curled the ball over the bar on 80 minutes on an evening where composure was at a premium.
Dylan Easton missed the best of Raith’s chances just beforehand when he cut inside and fired the ball just past the post from the edge of the penalty box.
Hearts eventually broke the deadlock three minutes from the end - although it came via mistake from Raith right-back Jai Rowe, whose short back-pass was intercepted by Rogers Mato and he netted from close range.
Hearts will now turn their attentions to next week’s clash with Sturm Graz.
Earlier in the day, the club confirmed the arrival of French defensive midfielder Laurent Mendy from Forest Green Rovers. However, like Reus, he is not registered for the Champions League tie.
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